What is Dementia & Alzheimer's?
Dementia is an umbrella term for progressive cognitive decline that interferes with daily life. Alzheimer's is the most common cause, but vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, and frontotemporal dementia each look different and need different treatment. New disease-modifying therapies (lecanemab, donanemab) are now available for early Alzheimer's — but only if diagnosed early enough.
When a second opinion really helps
- You were told 'it's just ageing' but symptoms are worsening month-on-month.
- Diagnosis was made without an MRI + cognitive screening (MMSE / MoCA).
- No discussion of reversible causes (B12 deficiency, thyroid, depression, sleep apnoea).
- Newer disease-modifying drugs (lecanemab, donanemab) were never mentioned.
Red flags — call 108 / 102 immediately
- Sudden confusion or personality change (rule out delirium / stroke)
- Rapid decline over weeks (suspect Creutzfeldt-Jakob, autoimmune encephalitis)
- Falls + visual hallucinations (suggests Lewy body dementia)
- Unsafe behaviour: wandering, leaving stove on, getting lost
Frequently asked questions
No. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) progresses to dementia in only ~10-15% per year — and many cases reverse with treatment of the underlying cause (depression, sleep apnoea, B12 deficiency).